TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING. 137 



tlie farmers to help skin lliemselves. It is due to the \vori>: 

 of the organized farmers, largely through the National 

 Grange, that the AIcKinley bill put some tariff on it for the 

 benefit of the agriculturists for the first time, practically, in 

 the history of this government, and we have had it there since 

 that time. But now they propose to take it off, and they are 

 going to take it off the farmers first. I agree with Prof. 

 Henry, that if they will take it off all around, I am with them, 

 but when they begin to skin the farmers, I am "agin 'em." 

 I don't believe we want that sort of reciprocity. Every time 

 you talk about taking oft' the tariff on woolen goods, you hear 

 a howl right away, now if they want to take the duty oft' of 

 our products and skin the farmers, let us, too, begin to howl 

 right away. Now just say AMEN to what Prof. Henry said, 

 and back him up. (Applause.) 



F'resident Rogers : We have a gentleman here from 

 one of the smallest states of New England, it is small, but it 

 is mighty in what it is producing. And I have great pleasure 

 in introducing to you Mr. R. M. Bowen of Rhode Island, 

 Treasurer of the State Horticultural society. 



Mr. R. M. Bowen, of Rhode Island: Mr. President, 

 ladies and gentlemen. I am very much pleased to be with 

 you at this meeting. This is the first meeting of your socie- 

 ty I have ever attended. I tried hard to come tw^o years ago. 

 but a business engagement prevented, and last year I had all 

 my plans to come, but I was called to serve on the jury, and 

 so I was kept away. This year I am with you, but I have 

 such an awful cold I can hardly speak out loud, so you will 

 have to excuse me from a long talk. 



I did not understand that I was picked as one of the 

 speakers, and hadn't supposed that I would be called upon to 

 speak, only that last night at the banquet, the two governors 

 of Connecticut were unable to attend, as was also Mr. Col- 

 lingwood, the editor of the Rural New Yorker. Mr. Hale 

 seemed to be afraid about this matter, he wanted to fill the 

 three men's places in one, so he telegraphed over to Rhode 

 Island for me to come and fill those three men's places. 



